MLB Player News

Schmidt agreed to a one-year, $3.6 million contract with the Yankees on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Ari Alexander of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

Schmidt will get a $1.57 million raise after he produced a career-best 2.85 ERA and 1.18 WHIP with 93 strikeouts over 85.1 innings in 16 regular-season starts with New York in 2024. The right-hander also garnered a start in Game 3 of the World Series versus the Dodgers, allowing three earned runs over 2.2 innings. Schmidt will likely enter the 2025 campaign as a back-end starter behind Gerrit Cole, Max Fried and Carlos Rodon.

Wells (elbow) and the Orioles avoided arbitration and agreed to a one-year, $2.075 million contract Thursday, Andy Kostka of TheBaltimoreBanner.com reports.

It's a slight increase from the $1.96 million that Wells made in his first year of arbitration eligibility last year. He started just three games during 2024 before undergoing a UCL revision and internal brace augmentation surgery on his right elbow in mid-June. It's a procedure that needs at least 12 months of rehab, so Wells will be sidelined until the midseason of 2025, at minimum.

Valdez and the Astros agreed to a one-year, $18 million contract to avoid arbitration Thursday, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

Valdez is entering his final year of arbitration eligibility and will earn nearly $6 million more than he did in 2024. He's emerged as one of the more reliable pitchers around the league in recent seasons, posting no worse than a 3.45 ERA in any season since 2021. Valdez has also completed at least 176 innings in each of the last three campaigns.

The Royals and Bubic avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $3 million contract Thursday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

Bubic thrived in relief in 2024 in his first full year back from Tommy John surgery, holding a 2.67 ERA and 39:5 K:BB over 30.1 regular-season frames. The lefty will be stretched out in spring training as the Royals consider him for their rotation.

The Mariners and Kirby avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $4.3 million contract Thursday, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.

It's a substantial raise for Kirby, who was eligible for arbitration for the first time as a Super 2 qualifier. The right-hander collected a 3.53 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 179:23 K:BB over 191 innings covering 33 starts for Seattle in 2024.

The Mariners claimed Jay off waivers from the Brewers on Thursday.

Jay had been designated for assignment and has now found a new home. The left-handed reliever made it to the majors at 30 for the first time in 2024, allowing five runs (four earned) over five appearances between the Mets and Brewers.

Gilbert agreed to a one-year, $7.625 million contract with the Mariners on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

The right-hander led MLB with 208.2 innings last season and had a 3.23 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and 220:37 K:BB as he made a career-high 33 starts. Gilbert picked up just nine wins despite his strong performance, but he has quickly established himself as one of the more reliable pitchers in baseball with a 3.60 ERA in 121 starts through his first four big-league seasons.

The Red Sox and Crawford avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $2.75 million contract Thursday, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.

Crawford reached Super 2 status, so he will receive a substantial pay bump. The right-hander made 33 starts for the Red Sox in 2024, finishing with a 4.36 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 175:51 K:BB across 183.2 frames. Crawford should open the season in Boston's rotation, though he could be the odd man out depending how the rest of the offseason and spring training unfold.

Manoah (elbow) agreed to a one-year, $2.2 million contract with the Blue Jays on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Following a delayed start to the season, Manoah was able to turn in a 3.70 ERA and 1.03 WHIP over 24.1 innings before a sprained UCL ended his campaign early in late May. The 27-year-old underwent a hybrid internal brace procedure to address the issue in June and is targeting August for his return to a big-league mound in 2025.

Houck agreed to a one-year, $3.95 million contract with the Red Sox on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.

After logging a 5.01 ERA in 2023, Houck bounced back with a 3.12 ERA and 1.14 WHIP last season while also posting a 154:48 K:BB over 178.2 frames. His improvement will earn him a $3.18 million raise in his first year of arbitration eligibility, and the 28-year-old righty is expected to follow new acquisition Garrett Crochet atop the Red Sox's rotation.